Rope-tightener.



F. & s. GBLLE RT.

ROPE TIGHTENEE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1910. I

982,586. Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

FRANK GELLERT, OF PERTH AMBOY, AND STANISLAW GELLERT, OF JERSEY CITY,

NEW JERSEY.

ROPETIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 24:, 1911.

Application filed July 6, 1910. Serial No. 570,608.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK GELLERT and STANIsLAw GELLERT, both citizensof the United States of America, residing in Perth Amboy, county ofMiddlesex, State of New Jersey, and in Jersey City, county of Hudson,State of New Jersey, respectively, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Rope-Tighteners, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to rope tighteners, and particularly to devicesintended for use in taking up the slack of clothes lines, etc., theobject of our invention being to provide a simple and etlicient devicefor this purpose, which may be cheaply iminufactured.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of ourdevice in one form; Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly insection; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.

In the form shown in the drawings our device comprises a rectangularmetallic frame A, preferably stamped from suitable sheet metal such asbrass, and bent to shape. The parallel long sides a and b of the frameare provided with wings a, perforated to form bearings for the spindle10 of the winding spool B, while the end 0 is perforated to permit thepassage of the rope R to the spool, bells 1.1 and 12 being provided toreduce the friction of the rope. The other end of the frame comprisesthe relatively heavy cross bar (1, which is pivoted at its ends to thesides a and Z), and carries the swiveling eye-bolt c to which one end ofthe rope is attached. Upon the spindle 10 of the spool B is mounted aratchet 13 which rotates with the spool. Apawl 14, also preferablystamped from sheet metal and bent to shape, is pivoted to the side a ofthe frame by a rivet 15, passing through the lugs 16 on the side of thepawl; The pawl is kept in engagement with the ratchet by means of a leafspring 17 riveted at one end to the back pawl, and hearing at its otherend against the upper surface of the side a of the frame in whichposition it is guided by the depending cheeks 19 of the pawl whichembrace the side a of the frame. An operating handle 20 is mounted uponthe spindle 10 and the latter is provided with a spike 21 to hold oneend of the rope.

, In operation one end of the ropeR is tied to the swiveling eye-bolt cand passes thence to the various pulleys which hold the rope inposition, the other. end of the rope being brought through the bells 11,12, to the spool 13 where it is made fast by being caught upon the spike21. Should the rope stretch on drying, a few turns of the spool B willmake it taut. lVhen the rope shrinks by reason of its having been wet byrain or dew, it is readily let out by pressing down upon the spring pawll t. The fact that the eye-bolt c swivels upon the cross bar (Z is ofespecial value inasmuch as it tends to keep the rope at constanttension, by rotating as the rope tends to twist, as it shrinks when wet.

o do not limit our invention to the precise form of structure shown,which may be variously modified without departing from the scope thereofas defined in the following claims.

lVe claim as our invention:

1. A rope tightener of the character described, comprising an elongatedrectangular frame, a winding spool mounted transversely of said frame, aratchet rotated by said spool and a spring pawl engaging the same, thesides of said frame being united at one end by a cross bar pivoted tosaid sides, said cross bar carrying an eye-bolt swiveled therein for thepurpose described.

2. A rope tightcner of the character de scribed, comprising a piece ofstamped metal,

angled to form one end and two sides of an elongated rectangular frame,the ends of said sides being united by a relatively heavy cross barpivoted thereto and carrying a swiveling eye-bolt, in combination with awinding spool mounted between the side members of said frame, a ratchetmoving with said spool, together with a channeled pawl embracing andpivoted on one of the side members of the frame, and a spring interposedbetween said pawl and side frame member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK GELLERT. STANISLAWV GELLERT. W'itnesses WILLIAM Anon, L. H. Gnorn.

